Speed cam demerit points plan revived

By VERNON SMALL deputy political editor

As police strive to lower the road toll even further, papers obtained by the Herald show that the Government rejected one of the most cost-efficient measures.

Just over a year ago, Cabinet resolved not to go ahead with a plan to impose demerit points for speed-camera offences - a move that could save seven lives a year.

Transport Minister Paul Swain is now trying to revive the plan.

Drivers earn demerit points if they are caught speeding by the police, but they are exempt if they are nabbed by speed cameras.

In October 2001, two months before the Labour-Alliance Cabinet decided not to press ahead, former Transport Minister Mark Gosche had advised that the change would be cost effective and end the demerit points inconsistency.

"Removal of this intervention is likely to require substantial additional funding for enforcement to achieve the same safety gains," he warned.

The decision not to extend the scheme came despite backing from the police.

Police national road safety manager Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald said extending demerit points to speed cameras would help stop rich people speeding.

At present, wealthy people could simply pay speed-camera fines and forget about them until the next time they were snapped.

The Automobile Association gave grudging support if demerits kicked in only at "excessive" speeds 20km/h or more above the limit.

Last year 403 people died on the roads, the lowest number since 1963.

The Government has set a target of no more than 300 deaths and 4500 hospitalisations from road accidents a year by 2010.

Two weeks ago Mr Swain said he was keen to see demerit points imposed for speed-camera offences as a way to push the road toll down further.

Research showed up to seven lives a year could be saved by discouraging speeding in this way.

He would seek more advice before making a recommendation to the Cabinet this year.

Mr Swain also backed a reduction in the allowable alcohol limit for drivers.

Road safety groups believe cutting the limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood would save 32 lives and $140 million a year.

The papers, released to the Herald under the Official Information Act, show that officials had previously planned a cut to the allowable alcohol limit which could also have banned drivers under 20 from drinking at all. Their limit is now 30mg.

But like the move on demerit points, the initiative did not proceed.

Sources said Mr Swain would have to overcome strong reservations in the Cabinet if he was to revive those plans.

A move to extend demerit points to speed-camera offences could be particularly contentious, because so many people could be affected.

Drivers who clock up 100 demerit points within two years are suspended for three months. A driver gets 50 demerit points for exceeding a speed limit by more than 36 km/h.

The police annual report shows 458,622 speed-camera fines were issued in 2001/02, down from 523,362 in the previous 12 months.

About 250,000 people were ticketed for speeding in the 2001/02 year.

The Government has said it plans to achieve its road safety targets through a "mixed" approach covering education, strong and consistent enforcement, and engineering to improve road quality and safety.

A $22 million package in September included funding for 600 new speed radars, 100 more police vehicles, including 11 booze buses, and 60 extra traffic police.

Herald feature: Cutting the road toll

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